Associated Press stories, Page 351
UN talks end in Rome with nations backing $200 billion a year plan to protect nature
BOGOTA, Colombia — Global negotiators concluded an extended session of the United Nations biodiversity conference, COP16, with key commitments on funds needed and the institutions through which the funds will be channeled to protect the world’s biodiversity. The countries agreed on how they would contribute $200 billion a year by...
Harsh flu season has health officials worried about brain complications in children
WASHINGTON — This year’s harsh flu season — the most intense in 15 years — has federal health officials trying to understand if it sparked an increase in a rare but life-threatening brain complication in children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 19,000 people have died from the...
Suicide bomb at a seminary in Pakistan kills top cleric, 5 others ahead of Ramadan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A suicide bomber blew himself up after walking into a mosque within a pro-Taliban seminary in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, killing a top cleric and five other worshippers and wounding dozens of others ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan, according to local police. The blast occurred...
Violent protests erupt in Athens on rail crash anniversary as frustration over system failures boils over
ATHENS, Greece — Protesters hurling Molotov cocktails and smashing paving stones clashed with riot police firing volleys of tear gas and stun grenades in central Athens Friday, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets of cities across Greece to mark the second anniversary of a devastating train...
Russia offers to restore direct air links with the U.S., during Istanbul talks
MOSCOW — Russia has offered the United States to restore direct air links between the two countries during the latest round of consultations with Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday. Russian and U.S. diplomats met in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss normalizing the operation of their respective embassies that...
No big new revelations in Justice Department’s release of Jeffrey Epstein files
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday released government documents related to wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein, but the first wave of files posted on the Justice Department website have largely been circulating in the public domain for years and didn’t include any new bombshells about the sex trafficking case...
Jake Knapp shoots 15th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Jake Knapp knew he was on the verge of something special early Thursday, with a run of five straight birdies to open his round at the Cognizant Classic. In the end, he joined one of golf’s most elite clubs. Knapp — the 99th-ranked player in...
Florida Gator battles Florida gator, Billy Horschel prevails at PGA National
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — A Gator took on a gator. Billy Horschel won. Let’s explain: Horschel played his college golf for the Florida Gators, so he knows plenty about the wildlife that gets seen on courses in the Sunshine State — including, yes, alligators. And when a gator made...
NASCAR stars enjoy immersive Mexico City visit ahead of first international Cup Series raceVideo
MEXICO CITY — Daniel Suarez led a quartet of NASCAR stars through the streets of Mexico City, after midnight, in search of a nightcap after a full day of showcasing his native country to his fellow competitors. NASCAR will hold its first points-paying international Cup Series race in modern history...
Long champions of social justice, Black athletes say their voices are needed now more than everVideo
For WNBA veteran Natasha Cloud, speaking up about social justice is just as important as winning basketball games. Cloud has had a successful nine-year pro career that includes a WNBA championship and being the career-assists leader for her former Washington Mystics. She also has used her platform for social justice...
Heisman Trophy winner and 2-way star Travis Hunter says he won’t work out at the NFL combineVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter insists he’s a different kind of player. He’s just waiting until March to put on his dazzling show for NFL scouts. The two-way star said Thursday he does not intend to work out with the defensive backs Friday or the receivers Saturday at...
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce plans to play next season rather than retire
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce plans to play next season rather than retire. The 35-year-old Kelce had been mulling whether to return for a 13th season. But the four-time All-Pro made his feelings clear in a text to Pat McAfee that the host read...
Former defense chiefs call for congressional hearings on Trump’s firing of senior military leaders
WASHINGTON — Five former secretaries of defense are calling on Congress to hold immediate hearings on President Donald Trump’s recent firings of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and several other senior military leaders, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press. The five men — who...
Cardinal McElroy calls for compassion in immigration policy as he prepares to lead in Washington
Cardinal Robert McElroy, who is getting ready to take over as archbishop of Washington, D.C. in March, called for compassion and dignity for migrants Thursday. Speaking at a news conference at the Diocese of San Diego, where he has served as bishop for over a decade, McElroy acknowledged that he...
CDC report adds to evidence that HPV vaccine is preventing cervical cancer in U.S. women
A new government report adds to evidence that the HPV vaccine, once called dangerous by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is preventing cervical cancer in young women. The report comes after Kennedy pledged to give a family member any fees he might earn from HPV vaccine...
Transgender troops are now being identified for removal under Pentagon orders
WASHINGTON — The military services have 30 days to figure out how they will seek out and identify transgender service members to remove them from the force — a daunting task that may end up relying on troops self-reporting or tattling on their colleagues. A memo sent to Defense Department...
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Taylor Momsen and Blake Lively mourn death of Michelle Trachtenberg
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Taylor Momsen and Blake Lively are among those paying tribute to Michelle Trachtenberg, who died Wednesday. Trachtenberg was found in her New York apartment “unconscious and unresponsive,” according to an NYPD statement. She was 39. “Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love...
Measles is one of the world’s most contagious viruses. Here’s what to know and how to avoid it
Measles is rarely seen in the United States, but Americans are growing more concerned about the preventable virus as cases continue to rise in rural West Texas. This week, an unvaccinated child died in the West Texas outbreak, which involves more than 120 cases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control...
Trump says he’s confident Putin will ‘keep his word’ if there’s a deal to end the war in Ukraine
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that talks to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are “very well advanced” and he expressed confidence that Russian leader Vladimir Putin won’t press to restart the war if a truce can be reached. Trump made the comments at the start of a White...
At least 11 dead, 65 injured in Congo after blasts at M23 rebel leaders’ rally, rebels say
BUKAVU, Congo — At least 11 people have died and 65 others injured after explosions hit a rally on Thursday being held by M23 rebel group leaders in the captured city of Bukavu, eastern Congo. “The attack caused 11 deaths and verifications are underway. The author of the attack is...
FBI accuses North Korean-backed hackers of stealing $1.5B in crypto from Dubai-based firm
ROME — The FBI has accused North Korean-linked hackers of conducting one of the largest thefts of cryptocurrency publicly known, seizing some $1.5 billion worth of ethereum from a Dubai-based firm. The theft earlier this month targeting Bybit, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, represents yet another involving a...
FDA flu shot meeting is abruptly canceled
A planned meeting of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration committee to recommend the makeup of seasonal flu shots for the 2025-26 influenza season was abruptly canceled Wednesday. That’s according to Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the Vaccines and...
Trump plans tariffs on Mexico and Canada for Tuesday, while doubling existing 10% tariffs on China
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Tuesday, in addition to doubling the 10% universal tariff charged on imports from China. In a Truth Social post Thursday, Trump said illicit drugs such as fentanyl are being smuggled into the United States at “unacceptable...
Influencer Tate brothers, who face human trafficking charges in Romania, arrive in the U.S.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are charged with human trafficking in Romania, arrived Thursday in the U.S. after authorities lifted travel restrictions on the siblings, who have millions of online followers. A spokesperson for the brothers, Mateea Petrescu, said the two landed in Fort...
EU pushes back hard against Trump tariff threats and his caustic comments that bloc is out to get U.S.
BRUSSELS — The European Union on Thursday pushed back hard against allegations by President Donald Trump that the 27-nation bloc was out to get the United States, and warned that it would vigorously fight any wholesale tariff of 25% on all EU products. The tit-for-tat dispute following the comments of...
